Jack River Presents ‘Visions Of Us’
Amidst a contentious, uncertain time for larger scale music and arts events in Australia, it is with absolute joy that we can exhale and say that on Friday night, Jack River’s ‘Visions Of Us’ officially went ahead and cast a glorious spell over fans on the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt!
Dreamed up and designed especially for this particular ‘Forecourt Series’ weekend, ‘Visions Of Us’ diverged from the standard blueprint of a Jack River show to embrace a truly collaborative, multi-disciplinary experience that put a spotlight on the talents, perspectives and lived perspectives of Holly’s friends, fellow artists and inspirations.
After a killer opening set from Byron Bay’s own emerging young star MAY-A, The first person to the podium was award-winning Gunai writer Kirli Saunders, and later the stage was handed to Brooke Boney, who spoke with power and conviction on the Black Lives Matter movement and Indigenous deaths in custody. Soon after, musical guests like the incredibly talented young Budjerah and Isabella Manfredi of The Preatures joined the Jack River crew for covers of Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ and Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’. But these singalongs turned into reverent silence on the forecourt, as Australian of the Year, sexual assault survivor and fierce advocate Grace Tame took to the mic to share. “By selfless self-expression we forge our collective progression because, though there may only be one who can tell it, a single story heals all those who hear it,” she declared. “We are the teachers now. There are new voices echoing in the chambers, stripped back to their bare wood and rebuilt. The language we lost sight of amid the darkness has come back to us: Love, compassion, common sense on common ground.”
Jack River and the band crushing it!
A cute moment with Holly and Maya Cummings.
Holly and the amazing Grace Tame.
Not a bad view from the top!
Jack River onstage.
Held on Gadigal Land in the heart of Sydney as the first of a string of special events at the Opera House over that weekend, ‘Visions Of Us’ saw an eager audience of 2000 file into the forecourt to be seated in a slightly different COVID-safe edition of a standard Forecourt show. The energy was peaceful but electric, as fans chattered and cheered in excitement over their chance to experience Jack River’s live magic in such a rare and unique way for the first time in months.
A huge thanks to Jack River band, crew and management, as well as Sydney Opera House and vendors Eighth Day Sound, Stage Systems Sydney, Eleven Design Australia and FRED. Everyone who worked on this show brought a beautiful, respectful energy to the site and it was felt across the entire day and the show itself.
You can relive the amazing night via Sydney Opera House’s official stream here.
All article photos by Maclay Heriot. Header photo by Jordan Munns.
Pre-show dressing room hangs!
Jack River, Isabella Manfredi and Annie Hamilton onstage singing ‘Big Yellow Taxi’.
Holly and her incredible guest Brooke Boney running through the show.
